Yamdena (spelt Jamdena during the Dutch colonial period) is the largest of the Tanimbar Islands in the Maluku Province of Indonesia. Saumlaki is the chief town, located on the south end of the island.
The island has a range of forested hills along its eastern coast, while its western coast is lower. The forests are inhabited by wild Water Buffalo.
The Yamdena language is spoken on and around the island. Christianity is the main religion, but ancestor worship is still practised. Handicrafts on the island include woodcarving, fine goldwork, Ikat weaving (mainly on nearby Selaru Island). In 1987 a new species of Bush Warbler was recorded on the island.
Megalith: In the village of Sangliat Dol there is an antique stone stairway that leads from the beach to a boat shaped stone platform. There are several similar ones but less preserved sites on the island which originally represented the boats on which the inhabitants' ancient ancestors arrived on the island.
Saumlaki is linked by air and sea to Langgur-Tual in the Kei Islands.
(Merle Travis - Tex Williams)
Now, I'm a fellow with a heart of gold
With the ways of a gentleman I've been told
A kind of a guy that wouldn't even harm a flea
But if me and a certain character met
That guy that invented the cigarette
I'd murder that son of a gun in the first degree.
That ain't 'cause I don't smoke myself
And I don't reckon they'll injure your health
I've smoked 'em all my life and I ain't dead yet
But nicotine slaves are all the same
At a pheasant party or a poker game
Everythin's gotta stop when they have that cigarette.
Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate that you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette.
Now at a game of chance the other night
Ol' Dame Forson wasn't doin' me right
Them kings and queens just kept on comin' 'round
Well, I got a full and I bet it high
But my plug didn't work on a certain guy
He just kept a raisin' and a layin' that money down.
Now he'd raise me and I'd raise him
I sweated blood I had to sink or swim
He finally called and he didn't raise the bet
I said ace's full pal how about you
He said, "I'll tell you in a minute or two
But I just gotta have another cigarette."
Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate that you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette.
--- Instrumental ---
Now the other night I had a date
With the cutest gal in the fifty states
A highbred uptown social little dame
She said she loved me and it seemed to me
That things were like they oughta be
And hand in hand we strolled down Lover's Lane.
She was, oh, so far from a chunk of ice
And our smoochin' party was a goin' real nice
So help me and I think I'd've been there yet
But I give her a hug and a little squeeze
And she said Jim excuse me please
But I just gotta have another cigarette.
Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate that you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette.
Gotta have another cigarette
Y'all keep pickin' if you want to but I'm gonna light one up